Beverage production



April 11, 19 A. A. PETERS ETAL BEVERAGE PRODUCTION Filed Jan. 5, 1942 I NVENTORS m/w/ ATTORND/- Patented Apr. 11, 1944 2,346,389 nnvsasca'raonuc'rrou Ambrose A. Peters and Herbert W. Peters, Milwaukee, Wis.: Helene Peters administratrix of said Ambrose A. Peters, deceased Application January 5, 1942, Serial No. 425,662

13 Claims.

Our present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of producing beverages such as hot coffee, tea or the like, and relates more specifically to various improvements in the construction and operation of beverage producing devices for automatically and effectively converting granular material and liquid into whole some beverage.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved beverage producer which is simple and compact in construction, and which is moreover highly efficient in use.

It has heretofore been proposed as shown in the prior Patent No. 2,190,270, granted February 13, 1940, to Ambrose A. Peters, to provide a coffee making assemblage wherein hot water from a stationary heater is caused to permeate upwardly through successive batches of coffee grounds confined in portable containers which are interchangeably associable with the fixed discharge pipe rising from the heater, and in which the finished coffee may be delivered from the portable permeating containers to any one of several coffee dispensing receptacles through spouts carried directly by the containers. This prior coffee fabrieating equipment is especially adapted for use in restaurants and other establishments wherein large quantities of fresh coffee should constantly be available, and while the patented coffee maker has proven highly successful for its intended purpose, it is not sufficiently rapid in action and flexible enough to permit quick and unhampered dispensation of the finished coifee to diverse places or localities of actual consumption, due to the fact that the successive batches treated and produced are relatively large and the final dispensing receptacles are bulky and cannot be readily transported from place to place. The prior system is also somewhat objectionable in that the equipment is relatively cumbersome and difficult to manipulate, and it also lacks sensitive and automatic controls whereby precise uniformity and excellence in final product is always assured.

It is therefore a more specific object of our present invention to provide various improve ments in coffee producing apparatus or the genera] type forming the subject of the prior patent above identified, and which obviates the objectionable features of the prior system while retaining all of the good characteristics thereof.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful system for rapidly producing delicious beverage such as wholesome coffee or tea, in relatively small batches of uniform consistency. which may be quickly and conveniently dispensed with the aid of transparent portable receptacles of standard construction.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide an improved beverage producing assemblage which has enormous capacity while being compact, neat and highly attractive in appearance, and wherein the permeating operation is most effectively accomplished and is subject to automatic control.

Still another specific object of our invention is to provide an improved coffee maker wherein a succession of relatively small batches of granular coffee can be rapidly and eflectively treated for extraction of the wholesome ingredients to produce delicious coffee beverage in correspondingly small and readily dispensable batches, and in which the grounds containers and the final coffee urns may be conveniently applied to or removed from the machine.

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide an improved device for making coffee or similar beverages in an expeditious manner, at minimum cost, and with utmost safety to the operator.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting the present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and operating beverage producers built in accordance with the invention, may be had by referring to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the improved assemblage and the controls thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical section through one of the improved beverage grounds containers and a standard beverage dispensing receptacle, and a transverse vertical section through the water heater and supporting base: and i Fig. 3 is a further enlarged transverse section through one of the grounds containers, taken along the line 3-8 of Fig. 2.

While the invention ha been shown anddescribed herein as being especially applicable to the production of coffee beverage, it is not our desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement which is applicable more generally to the production of various kinds 0! permeated beverages.

Referring to the drawing forming a part of this specification, the improved beverage producing system shown therein by way or illustration comprises in general, a stationary electrically energized water heater ll having a valve controlled supply'pipe ii communicating with any desirable fresh water pressure source and a fixed hot water discharge pipe I, the latter rising at an inclination from the uppermost portion of the heating chamber I and having a tapered socket I at its upper extremity; a plurality of interchangeably similar containers it each having an inner central compartment H for confining a batch of granular beverage producing material I2 and being provided at its lower end with a central tapered nipple or plug it adapted to irictionally engage the stand pipe socket 9, while its upper end is provided with a down spout l4 communicating with the top of the compartment 4 l and disposed closely adjacent to the outer side wall or the container I U; a removable filter it carried by a detachable closure cap or cover It associated with each oi the containers ill, the filter It being interposed between the spout l4 and the compartment II; a pluralit of interchangeably similar beverage dispensing receptacles I! each formed symmetrical with respect to a central axis and having a handle II and a cover is associated with the upper neck portion Ill thereof; and a support II for the receptacles I! located in central alinement with the container spout l4 and laterally oi the inclined riser pipe I so as to permit unobstructed disposition of the successive receptacles II directly beneath the spouts l4.

The electrically energized water heater 5 which is shown diagrammatically in Fig. l and in transvers section in Fig. 2, consists primarily ot a slightly inclined cylindrical drum 22 forming a suitable enclosure for the liquid filled heating zone or chamber l, an being housed and nor mally concealed within an ornamental frame or base 23; and one or more U-shaped electric heating elements 24 confined within the chamber ii and connected to a main electric energy supply line 2! having a manually actuated cut-out switch 28 associated therewith. A thermostat 21 is operatively associated with a switch 28 interposed between one terminal of the heating elements 24 and the main line 25, and this switch It is adapted to break the heater circuit automatically when the temperature or the water in the chamber I reaches a predetermined high value. The fresh water supply Plpe i communicates with the heater 5 through a strainer 29 and past a magnetically actuated automatic control valve It and a manually operable regulating valve SI; and the delivery end or the supply pipe 6 is provided with an elongated tubular end 32 disposed within the lower portion or the heating chamber 8, and having a series oi downwardly directed ports or orifices II in the bottom thereof. The magnetically actuated i'resh water control valve III ,is connected to main line 25 in series with a magnetically actuated switch 34 the operation of which is controllable by means of two push button switches 35, it one of which is normally open andthe other of which is merely a safety switch and is normally closed, as shown in Fig. 1. An indicating lamp II which together with the switches l4, I5, 38 may be mounted within the base 2!, is disposed in the circuit which is controlled by the switch 84, and this lamp will light when the switches 34, II, 38 are all closed, but will extinguish when either oi the switches 34. ll is open. The arrangement of the electrical assassa connections and switches for the water heater I is such that when the main switch 24 is closed, the heating elements 24 will be energized and will function to continuously heat the water within the chamber I; and when the temperature oi this water reaches a predetermined high degree the temperature controlled switch 28 will automatically open to de-energize the heating elements 24. When the manually actuated valve II as been set to predetermine the rate or now or the trash water, and the push button switch 35 is closed, the lamp I! will light and the magnetically actuated valve 30 will be opened so as to automatically regulate the quantity of trash water delivered to the heater from the pressure source.

The receptacle support II is vertically movably supported upon the base frame It by means of a central spindle II, and is constantly urged toward uppermost position either by means of a lever 44 and weight 43 as in Fig. i, or by a coil spring 89, as in Fig, 2. The disk-like movable support ii is provided with an electric heating element 40 one terminal of which is constantly and directly connected with the negative branch of the main line 25, while its opposite terminal is adapted to be interchangeably connected to the positive branch of the main line 25, either through the lever switch 4i, or through another magnetically actuated switch 4|. This opposite terminal of the heating element 40 is connected to the upper contact of the two way switch 4!, and the lower contact of this switch 4| is connected with the solenoid or actuating coil 42 of the magnetic switch 34. A similar solenoid cr actuating coil 49 of the magnetic switch 48 is connected in parallel with the coil 42 of the magnetic switch 34, and the pivot terminal of the switch 4i is always connected to the positive branch of the main line 25; so that when the push button switch is closed, both of the magnetic switches 34, 48 will automatically close if the lever switch 4| is engaging its lower contact.

When no receptacle II or an empty one, is resting upon the movable support II, the lower contact of the switch 4| will be closed, and the heating element 40 may then be energized by closing the push button switch 35. Such closing of the switch 35 will immediately cause the magnetic switches I4, 48 to close. and the closing of these magnetic switches will simultaneously illuminate the lamp I1, energize and open the fresh water control valve Ill, and energize the heater 40. The apparatus will then function to deliver beverage to the receptacle l1 disposed upon the support H, and when this receptacle become filled to -a predetermined extent, the circuit through the lower contact of the switch 4| and through the solenoids 42, 49 will be interrupted to simultaneously open the switches 84, 4t, extinguish the lamp t1, and close the magnetic valve 38, thereby stopping the flow of fresh water to the heater 5. The heating element 40 will be momentarily ole-energized, but will be quickly re-energized when the lever switch 4| engages its upper contact, and will remain active so long as the liquid filled receptacle I! is permitted to remain upon the support II.

The push button switch 35 is of the type wherein when the button is released after closing the circuit controlled thereby, it will automatically return to open position; and the other push button switch It is merely a safety switch and may be oi the type wherein the circuit conassassin trolled thereby is normally closed but will be interrupted by pressing the button. Closing of the switch 35 will therefore energize the coils l2, 4! simultaneously. and these coils will remain energized until either of the switches 36 or II are opened, whereupon the switches ll, ll will automatically open.

The weight of the support II and spindle 30 may be counterbalanced either by means of a weight 43 adiustably suspended from a lever 44 which is pivotally attached to the spindle 38 and coasts with a iixed fulcrum II as hown in 118. i. or by means of an adjustable tension spring I! as in Fig. 2. Several other stationary electric warmers or heaters It for other liquid fllled receptacles l1, may also be connected to the main line 25 and provided with independent switches 41 as illustrated in Fig. l, and these auxiliary heaters it may be mounted on the base 23 around the movable support 2i and riser pipe I.

The upwardly extending laterally inclined hot water discharge pipe I which communicates with the uppermost portion of the chamber 8, may be housed within an ornamental and protective tubular casing 50 and the tapered socket 9 may rest upon the upper end of the casing 50 and is rigidly attached to the outlet end of the pipe I by a liquid tight joint. The interchangeably similar container ll may be formed of sheet metal, and each of these containers I is preferably provided with a lower annular apron depending from its chamber II and below the lower end of it nipple plug l3, so that the container Ill may be set firmly upon a flat surface without obstruction by the lower plug thereof. The interior of each nipple plug it is provided with a one-way ball check valve 52 which will permit hot water to flow freely through the plug and into the percolating chamber II, but will not permit reverse "flow of the liquid, so that no coffee can flow into the heating chamber I and the containers I. may be removed from the socket! without danger of dripping. The plugs it may be formed of soft rubber and are tapered for snug coaction with the socket 9, but the containers. In are freely upwardly removable and replaceable by other similar containers. The upper closure covers it of the containers "I may be provided with handles as shown. and are removably attachable to the containers bv bayonet joints 53 as shown in Fig. 3. The cloth filter I5 which is suspended from each cover I is attachable to a spider 5| secured centrally to the cover, by means of a draw string 55 as shown in Fig. 3, and the filter I! spans the upper end of the permeating chamber ll so that no liquid can escape from this chamber to the spout l without passing through the filter cloth. The beverage producing material I! may be coffee grounds. tea leaves. or any other relatively granular beverage stock, and the spouts H are disposed closely adjacent to their supporting containers II and are open at both ends.

The bevera e receiving and dispens n rec ntacles I! of which there may be any desired ber provided depending upon the capacity of the system, are of relatively standard construction and are ordinarily formed of transparent material such as glass. Each of these receptacles I1 is of sufllcient volumetric capacity to hold the beverage which can properly be produced from a single batch of material l2, and when a receptacle II has been filled with final beverage, the co-operating container Ill should be removed from the socket I. and the filled receptacle II should be removed from the movable support II. The housing frame 23 may be provided with ad- Justable legs 06, and the lamp 3'! may be disposed behind a lense I1; and the fresh water supply pipe 8 may be connected to any suitable source of water under pressure.

When it is desired to utilize the improved beverage producing apparatim, the manually operated control valve 3| should be set to produce the desired rate of flow of fresh water from the supply pipe 8 to the heater I when the valve has been opened, and the main switch 26 should be closed, thus energizing the heater elements 24. A container Ill having a fresh batch of material l2 therein should then be applied to the stand pipe socket 9, and an empty receptacle i1 should be placed upon the movable support I! beneath and in vertical alinement with the spout ll of the receptacle It. The system will then be in the position shown in the diagram of Fig. l, and the lamp 31 will be extinguished. B pressing the push botton switch 35, the magnetic switches 34, M will be closed, the light 31 will be illuminated, and the magnetic control valve 30 will be opened to admit fresh liquid to the chamber 8. This admission of fresh liquid to the bottom of the chamber ii will force hot liquid through the pipe I and the heating elements 26 will then function to heat the liquid in the chamber 8. and as this liquid becomes heated to the proper temperature it will be forced through the pipe I and socket 9 past the check valve 52 and through the nipple I3, and will permeate upwardly through the granular material It within the chamber ll. When the hot liquid has passed through the material I! and through the filter IE, it will flow downwardly through the spout H as illustrated in Fig. 2 and will gradually fill the receptacle l1. When the liquid in the receptacle I! has accumulated to such an extent that the weight thereof combined with that of the receptacle is sufllcient to lower the support 2i and to momentarily open the switch ll, the solenoid switches 34, 48 will be automatically opened thereby extinguishing the lamp 31 and closing the magnetic water control valve 30. The switch II will thereafter close against its upper contact and the heater I will remain effective until after the receptacle H has been completely filled with beverage and is subsequently removed, whereupon the weight 43 or the spring 39, whichever is used, will beccme eifective to restore the support 2| to its uppermost position with the lever switch 4| closed against its lower contact. The thermostat 21 will prevent excessive rise of the temperature within the chamber 8, and the regulating val e 30 will effectively control the delivery of fre-h liquid to this chamber and will stop the delivcry when the switches 34, Ill are open and no container I0 is associated with the socket 9. or when the safety switch 36 is opened. When a batch of beverage has been completed, the container It may be removed and replaced by a similar container having a fresh batch of material l2 therein, and the filled receptacle I! may then be removed and placed upon one of the auxiliary heaters 46, whereupon another empty receptace ll may be placed upon the support 2|. In this manner successive batches of beverage can be quickly and effectively produced and the completed batches may be maintained in heated condition until they are to be dispensed. The system operates automatically and is effectively protected against dangerous pressure conditions within the chamber 8 by the thermostat 21 cooperating with the switch 28. In order to place the system in inactive position, it is only necessary to manipulate the push button switch 36, and when it is desired to de-energize the heating elements 24, it is only necessary to open the main switch 28.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that our present invention provides an improved beverage producing system which is extremely simple in construction and highly emcient in operation. The performance 01' the apparatus is automatic except for the replacement of the containers III and of the receptacle I I, and the final beverage is automatically maintained in heated condition so that it may be served hot. The improved construction oi the heater 6 with its inclined hot water discharge pipe I, permitsthe use of standard receptacle I! which are formed symmetrical with respect to central vertical axes, and also permits the location of the discharge spouts ll closely adjacent to their containers ill. The provision or the aprons II on the containers III also permits these containers to be set vertically upon flat surfaces, and the indicator light 31 eflectively shows when the system is in operation and beverage is being produced. The operation of the heating element 40 which is associated with the movable support II is entirely automatic, and the unit can readily be adjusted for co-operation with relatively rough supporting surfaces by adjustment of the legs 56. The improved beverage producing apparatus has proven highly satisfactory and successful in actual commercial use, and is adapted to produce successive batches of delicious beverage in rapid succession and at extremely moderate cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a beverage producer, a stationary water heater having an inclined hot liquid discharge pipe rising from its uppermost portion and provided with a tapered socket at its upper extremity, a container for beverage producing granular material having a tapered lower central plug adapted to fit said pipe socket and being provided with a vertical down spout communicating with the space above said material and disposed closely adjacent to the container wall, and a portable receptacle for finished beverage formed symmetrical with respect to a central vertical axis and being disposable in vertical alinement with said spout and within the space produced by the inclination of said pipe.

2. In a beverage producer, a stationary water heater having an inclined hot liquid discharge pipe rising from its uppermost portion and provided with a tapered socket at its upper extremity, a container for beverage producing granular material having a tapered lower central plug adapted to fit said pipe socket and being provided with a vertical down spout communicating with the space above said material and disposed closely adjacent to the container wall, a support disposed centrally and vertically beneath the delivery end of said spout and extending laterally beneath said pipe and socket, and a portable beverage dispensing receptacle formed symmetrical with respect to a central vertical axis and being disposable upon said support in axial alinement with said spout.

3. In a beverage producer, a water heater havi g an upwardly directed hot liquid discharge pipe p ovided with a tapered socket at its upper end, and a granular material beverage producing container having a lower plug formed for snug but removable disposition within said socket, said container having an apron wail depending from its outer wall to a plane beneath said plug.

4. In a beverage producer, a water heater having an upwardly directed hot liquid discharge pipe provided with a tapered socket at its upper end, and a granular material beverage producing container having a lower plug formed for snug but removable disposition within said socket, said container having an apron wall depending from its outer wall to a plane beneath said plug, and said container also having a beverage discharge spout terminating in said plane.

5. In a beverage producer, a water heater, a granular beverage producing material container adapted to receive hot liquid from said heater, an electrically actuated valve for controllin the delivery of liquid from said heater to sai container, a support for receptacles receiving final beverage from said container, an electric heater for receptacles resting, upon said support, and

common means for controlling the actuation of said valve and of said electric heater.

6. In a beverage producer, a water heater, a granular beverage producing material container adapted to receive hot liquid from said heater, an electrically actuated valve for controlling the delivery of liquid from said heater to said container, a support for receptacles receiving final beverage from said container, an electric heater for receptacles resting upon said support, means for simultaneously closing said valve and for momentarily de-energizing said electric heater when a receptacle resting upon said support has been supplied with a predetermined quantity of beverage, and means for thereafter quickly re-energizing said electric heater if the beverage laden receptacle is permitted to remain upon said sup- P rt.

7. In a beverage producer, a water heater, a container for granular beverage producing material adapted to receive hot liquid from said heater, an electrically actuated valve for controlling the delivery of liquid from said heater to said container, an electric heating element for the final beverage, and common means operable by the final beverage produced to automatically con-,

trol the actuation of said valve and said heating element.

8. In a beverage producer, a water heater, a granular beverage producing material container for receiving hot liquid from said heater, a valve for controlling the delivery of liquid from said heater to said container, a support for receptacles receiving final beverage from said container, an auxiliary heater for receptacles resting upon said support, means for simultaneously closing said valve and momentarily shutting oi! said auxiliary heater when a receptacle resting upon said support has been supplied with a predetermined quantity oi beverage, and means for thereafter again placing said auxiliary heater in operation if the beverage laden receptacle is permitted to remain upon said support.

9. In combination, a main water heater, a beverage producer for receiving hot liquid from said heater, a valve for controlling the delivery of liquid to said heater, a support for receptacles receiving nnal beverage from said producer, an auxiliary heater for receptacles resting upon said support, means for closing said valve and shutting or! said auxiliary heater whenever a receptacle resting upon said support has been filled with beverage, and means for thereafter automatically placing said auxiliary heater in operation it the beverage laden receptacle is permitted to remain upon said support.

10. In combination, a water heater, a beverage producer for receiving hot liquid from said heater, a valve for controlling the delivery of liquid from said heater to said producer, a support for receiving final beverage from said producer, an auxiliary heater ior receptacles resting upon said support, and means for closing said valve whenever a receptacle resting upon said support has been filled and for thereafter automatically placing said auxiliary heater in operation if the filled receptacle is permitted to remain upon said support.

11. In combination, a water heater, a beverage producer adapted to receive hot liquid from said heater, an electrically actuated valve for controlline the delivery oi. liquid to said heater, it normally elevated downwardly movable support for receptacles receiving final beverage from said producer, an electric heater for receptacles resting upon said support, means operable by downward movement of said support for simultaneously closing said valve and for de-energizing said electric heater when a receptacle resting upon said support has been filled, and means for thereafter automatically re-energizlng said heater if the beverage laden receptacle is permitted to remain upon said support.

12. In combination, a heater for beverage receptacles, a beverage producing container adapted to deliver flnal beverage to receptacles coacting with said heater, a valve for controlling the delivery ol liquid to said container, and common means operable by the final beverage delivered to said receptacles to automatically control the actuation 01 said valve and said heater.

13. In combination, an electrically actuated heater for beverage receptacles, a beverage producing container adapted to deliver final beverage to receptacles coacting with said heater, an electrically actuated valve for controlling the delivery oi liquid to said container, and common control means operable by the final beverage delivered to said receptacles to automatically control the actuation of said valve and said heater.

AMBROSE A. PETERS. HERBERT W. PETERS. 

